The Northampton and Peterborough Railway was an early railway promoted by the London and Birmingham Railway (L&BR) to run from a junction at Blisworth on the L&BR main line to Northampton and Peterborough, in England. The construction of the line was authorised by Parliament in 1843 and the 47 mile line opened in 1845. The line largely followed the river Nene, and for the economy of construction, it had many level crossings with intersecting roads, rather than bridges. In 1846 the L&BR joined with other companies, together forming the London and North Western Railway (LNWR).
The line ran through largely agricultural terrain, and it never developed as much as later, neighbouring main line railways. It closed to ordinary passenger traffic in 1964, and closed completely in 1972. A part of it has since been reopened as the Nene Valley Railway heritage line.
Beginnings
First main line, and the Peterborough branch
The London and Birmingham Railway (L&BR) opened its main line on 17 September 1838, passing from Roade to Rugby to the west of Northampton. The people of Northampton saw that they were at a commercial and economic disadvantage not having a railway station in their town, and following a public meeting on 8 March 1838, they petitioned the L&BR to provide a branch line to their town. After consideration the L&BR considered that a branch line from Blisworth to Northampton and Peterborough would be advantageous, by connecting Peterborough into their system, as well as the intervening agricultural terrain. Peterborough was an important and expanding regional centre, although the route from London via Blisworth would be very circuitous. At this early date the advantages of having a railway connection were so considerable, that few reflected on the lengthy and roundabout route.
The proposal for the branch line went to the 1843 session of Parliament and the authorising Act was passed on 4 July 1843. Robert Stephenson was the engineer of the line; work started in March 1844. The line was to leave the L&BR main line at Blisworth and descend considerably to Northampton. After that the line was to follow the River Nene on an easy alignment all the way to Peterborough. Stephenson’s design involved 26 level crossings, 13 river bridges and a short tunnel at Wansford.
At the same time the Eastern Counties Railway was building a branch line from Ely to Peterborough. The Great Northern Railway ad not yet been formed, and therefore the ECR and the L&BR discussed building a joint station, but the ECR turned this idea down. Instead it would build a Peterborough station (and an extension of the line for 600 yards beyond it) and allow the L&BR to use it.
Opening and operation
The L&BR opened its line from Blisworth to Northampton on 13 May 1845. On 31 May an inspection trip throughout the line was made by the directors; and the line to Peterborough was opened to the public on 2 June 1845. It was the first railway in Peterborough. At 47 miles in length, it had cost £429,409 to build. As the ECR had not yet opened its line, the L&BR alone was using the ECR station. These openings were for passenger traffic only; goods trains started running on 15 December 1845. Conveyance of cattle to London and other population centres was an important traffic; coal brought in was also a significant business.
Blisworth station had been built as a simple wayside station and was unsuitable as an important junction, and inconveniently located. (It was at the point where the line crosses the A43 road.) A new larger Blisworth station was built about half a mile further north-west, at the point of junction.
Many of the intermediate stations were built in an Old English or Tudor style from local limestone. The Syston and Peterborough Railway, a dependency of the Midland Railway, was under construction at this period. There was serious difficulty with getting land for the line in the central area, and the company opened a detached section from Stamford to Peterborough. It too did not have its own station at Peterborough, and as it was remote from its parent company, it arranged that the L&BR.) would work its trains, and to use the ECR station. For a short period there was a passenger service from Ely to Stamford.